Closure fastener



March O, 1931. A25 LICHTEN ET AL 1,795,496'

'CILIOSUREI vFASTENER Filed DGO. 16. 1927 /7 /N www0/Q5 /I/P'THUR 5. L/CH TEN 3.5 ABRAHAM KOU/:MAN

.Patented Mar. 10, 1931 PATENT OFFICE s ARTHUR S. LICHTEN, .ABRAHAM KOUFMAN, AND WILLIAM PENNSYLVANIA SHULIK, 0F PHILADELPHIA,

GLOSURE FASTENER Application led December 16, 1927. SerialNo. 240,372.

Our invention relates generally to the type of iexible closure fasteners of the continuous type, such as described, for instance, in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,219,881.

The present invention relates vmore particularly to novel means for effecting the opening and closing of the fastener or what may be termed, generally as the operating slide. Thus, our invention relates particularly to a novel operating slide and handle member therefor which possess certain novel structural as well as functional features, resulting particularly in greater Aease of operation in the opening and closing of the fastener and permitting the concealment of the handle in relatively thin spaces, and also providing means Afor locking the operating slide in any desired position along the flexible closure fastener.

For the purpose of illustrating our invention we have shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred by us, since'the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which our invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that our invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as' hereinshown and described.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1, represents a front elevation, on a greatly enlarged scale, of a flexible closure fastener having the operating slide and handle of our novel construction applied thereto.

Fig. 2, represents a section generally on line y 2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating our novel pivotal swivelled handle member of av slightly modified construction.

Fig. 6, represents a section on line 6-6 of' v The operating slide of our novel construction-is designated generally by the,v numeral.

10 and comprises a pair of two opposed cam` plates 11 and 12, fiXedly connected to each other and maintained in rigid and fixed" spaced relation to each other by an intermediate spacing and supporting member 13. Each of the two opposed cam plates 11 and 12 is provided with opposed and spaced camming ianges 14 and 15 diverging at both ends so as tov present not only suitably inclined entering cams or channels 16 but so as also to form slightly inclined, outwardly diverging, receding cams 17.

The outer cam plat/e 11 is provided with a laterally and generally horizontally projected handle socket member 18 having therein a generally horizontal, cylindrical bearing opening 19. A han-dle member 20 vof any suitable shape and size is providedwith a trunnion portion 21, either rigidly affixedthereto or formed integrally therewith. The trunnion portion 21 is journalled in the bearing opening 19 thereby maintaining the handle member 20 in swivelled relation to the operating slide 10. In order to lock the trunnion portion 21 and handle member 2O in the l socket 18 `of the operating slide 10, against axial displacement of the handle member with respect to the operation slide, that is against removal'from the socket, the trunnion portion 21 is preferably provided with somewhat enlarged diameter flanges 22 and 23, with a smaller diameter groove 24 intermediate thereof. The outer end of the socket 18 is provided with a correspondingly enlarged bore as at 25, having a relatively thin wall. In assembling the slide 10 and swivrA elled handle member 20, the trunnion portion 21 is mounted in the socket '18, and the relatively thin wall of the outer portion of the socket 18 is rolled or indented into the annular ohannel24= of the trunnion portion 21, as at 26, forming an annular bead therein and establishing a permanent swivellingv connection or engagement between the socket 18 and trunnion portion 21, against any axial displacement relative to eachother.

Due to the swivelled connection between handle member and slide, about a fixed horizontal axis, the slide 10 ma be operated vwith.

(greater facility under con itions which rener the slide more or less inaccessible. Thus, for instance, the pivotal handle member and slide of our present ynovel construction is particularly adapted for use with closure fasmember, by virtue of its swivelled mounting,i

is `capable of being turned so as to lie flush withthe relatively thin operating slide and thereby reduce to a minimum, the aggregate thickness of the closure fastener. Thus, when it is desired to operate the slide 10, the relatively flat handle portion is turned at a righ-t angle to the direction of movement-of the slide, as shown in Fig. 3, and also by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, so that a substantial grip may be had on the handle portion. When the slide is not in actual operation the handle portion is turned at a right angle, into the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 1, in which case it is flush with, and occupies substantially the saine lane as, the slide 10.

In order to lock thefslide 10 at any desired position along the continuous, flexible fasteners of the conventional construction, designated generally by the numerals 27 and 28, the innermost end of the trunnion portion 21 of the handle member 20 is provided with a flat, terminal locking member or detent 29, carried rigidly by the trunnion portion 21 and positioned preferably at a right angle to the plane of the handle portion, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. When the flat locking member or detent 29 is turned parallel to the row of fasteners 27, as indicated in Fig. 3, it clears the edges of said fasteners and thus permits the/ operating slide 10 to be moved freely in either direction for opening or closing, respectively. When, however, the handle portion is turned parallel or iiush with the slide 10, into the position shown in solid lines I in Fig. 1 and as indicated in Fig. 2, the flat detent 29 is positioned transversely of the row of fasteners 27, with an edge thereof disposed between two adjacent fastener members, thereby interlocking the slide l0 with the row of fasteners 27 and thus preventing any movement of the slide 10.

This is of particular advantage as it will prevent the accidental opening or closing of the fastener, particularly the former. Thus, in order to move the slide 10, so as .to unlock or open the fastener, it is necessary rst to turn the handle portion into a position subl stantially at a right angle to the direction of movement of'the slide or at a right angle to u the line of fasteners 27; thereby to unlock the slide. y

In Figures 8 and 9 we have illustrated a handle portion 30 of a modified construction, having a central aperture 31 therethrough, in which the female part 32 of a snap fastener may be permanently aiiixed in a manner shown particularly in Figure 9. By this means the handle 30 may be locked in any position byl means of a male snap .fastener part 33 sewed to the cloth 34 as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 9.

In Figures 5 and 6 we have illustrated a still further modified handle construction in which the stein or trunnion portion 21 is bifurcated at its outer end'as at 35 and a nonmetallic disk of suitable shape, such as a bone or ivory disk 36 is inserted into the bifurcated end 35 and secured thereto b means of a rivet 37 as well as by other suita le grippingmeans such as the inwardly projecting edge ortions or claws 38.

In `i re 7 we have illustrated a still further modified handle construction in'which a continuous annular, thin metallic frame 39 is formed integrally with the stem or trunnion portion .21 and any -suitable non-nietallic disk 40 is inserted and affixed perinw nently in the thin metallic frame 39, thereby to form a composite handle member.

It is a characteristic feature 'of the invention that the handle member is off-center or to one side of the slide in an operating condition. The sides of the slide should be understood herein to mean the left and right hand side of the slide as viewed in Figure 1 of the drawing. Thus, it is also a characteristic feature -of this invention that the handle member is off-center with respect to the slide. the center line passing` between the two rows of fasteners, 27 and 28. Likewise, the terni trunnion used herein should be construed in the more specific sense, to wit; an elongated supporting member journalled at one end in a bearing and overhanging at the other end in a cantilever fashion.

It will thus be seen that by our novel construction in an operating slide and handle` member for closure fasteners` not only is the opening and closing of the fastener greatly facilitated in concealed places not easily accessible, but by means of our novel construction an operating slide and handle is provided which is particularly adapted for use Bib lli@

The center line herein referred to is a in garments because it is relatively thin and is thus of particular advantage also in the pressin or ironing of the garment. Operating-s ides and handles of closure fasteners of this character have heretofore been qulte bulky or thick and have consequently greatly interfered with the proper pressing of garments within which they Were contained.

AWe are aware that'our invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departing from the spirit ores'sential attributes thereof, and We therefore desire the present embodiments thereof to beV considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive,

having a rigid trunnion portion having one endthereof svvivelled in said socket; said handle being permanently disposed to one side of the operating slide. A

2. An operating slide for flexible closure fasteners having diverging fastener-receiving guide channels, having a bearing socket therein, ahandle trunnion svvivelled in sa-id bearing socket and means carried at'one end of said trunnion for locking the slide in any desired position along the fastener.

3.- In an operating slide for flexible closure fasteners having diverging fastener-receiving guide channels," a bearing socket in one side of the slide having its axis extending transversely of the direction of travel of the slide and substantially parallel to the plane of the fasteners, and a handle member disposed to one side of the slide in the operative position thereof, said. handle member including a trunnion stem having one end thereof journalled in said bearing socket.

4. In an operating slide for flexible closure fasteners of the character stated, a cam plate, having a bearing socket therein with its axis disposed transversely of the direction of travel of the slide, a trunnion portion having one end thereof liournalled in said socket and means carried by the journalled end of the trunnion portion for interengaging with the rovi7 of fasteners of the flexible closure fastener, thereby to lock the operating slide with With respect tosaid flexible `closure fastener.

5. In an operating slide for flexible closure said trunnion portion, and means carried by the `journalled end of the trunnion portion for interengaging with a row of fasteners of the flexible closure fastener when the handle portion and trunnion portion' are revolved, thereby to lock the operating slide with respect to said flexible closure fastener.

6. In an operating slide for flexible closure fasteners ofthe character stated, a bear ing socket in one side of the slide'having its axis extending transversely of the direction -of travel of the. slide and substantially parallel to the plane of the fasteners, a trunnion portion having one endthereof journalled in said socket, a handle portion carried by the outer end of said trunnion portion and ade7 tent carried by the journalled end of the trunnion portion for inter-engaging With the row of fasteners fof the flexible closure fastener,

, thereby tovlock the operatin slide, 'with respect to said flexible closure astener.

7. In an operatingslide for flexible closure fasteners of the character stated, a bearing socket in one side of the slide having its axis extending transversely of the direction of -travel of the slide and substantially parallel to the plane of the fasteners, a trunnion portion having one end thereof journalled in said socket, a handle portion carried by the outer end of said trunnion portion and means carried by the journalled end of the trunnion portion for inter-engaging with a row of fasteners of the flexible closure fastener 'when the handle portion and trunnion portion are revolved,thereby to lock the operating slide with respect to said flexible closure fastener.

8. In an operating slide for flexible closure fasteners having a bearing socket at a side thereof with its axis disposed transversely of the direction of travel of said slide, an operating handle having a rigid trunnion stem journalled in said bearing socket, and means carried by the trunnion stem for inter-engaging With the row of fasteners of the flexible closure fastener, 'thereby to lock the operating slide with respect to said flexibleclosure fastener.

9. In an operating slide for flexible closure fasteners having a bearing socket at a side thereof with its axis disposed transversely of the direction of travel of said slide, an operating handle having a rigid trunnion stem journalled in said bearing socket, and means carried by the trunnion stem for inter-engaging with a roW of fasteners of the flexible yond the same and a handle portion rigidly carried on the Vfree end of said trunnion portion. I

11. In an operating slide for fiexible'closure fasteners of the character stated, a bearing socket in said slide extending transversely l of the direction of travel of said slide, a trunnion portion having one end thereof swivelled in said bearing socket and having'the other end thereof extending beyond the same, and a handle portion rigidly carried on the free end of said trunnion portlon.

12. In an operating slide for flexible closure fasteners of the character stated, a bearing socket in said slide, a handle member includin a trunnion portion having one end thereof journalled in said bearing socket and having the other end thereof extending beyond the same, a handle portion carried rigidly on the free end of said trunnion portion, and means to retain said trunnion portion against axial displacement.

13. In an operating slide for flexible closure fasteners of the character stated, a bearing socket in said slide extending transversely of the direction of travel of s aid slide, a trunnion portion having one end thereof journalled in said bearing socket and having the other end thereof extending beyond the same, a handle portion rigidly carried on the free end of said trunnion portion, and means to retain said trunnion portion against axial displacement.

14. An operating slide for flexible closure rfasteners having diverging fastener-receiving guide channels, including a handle carried by and permanently projecting to one side `of the slide, in an operative condition.

15. An operatingslide for flexible closure fasteners having diverging fastener-receiv ing guide channels, including a handle member swivelled to the slide and extending permanently in a direction transversely of the direction of travel of said slide.

16. An operating slide for flexible closure fasteners having diverging fastener-receiving guide channels, including a handle carried by and extending permanently to one side of the slide in a direction transversely of the path of travel of said slide and in an operative condition.

17 An operating slide for flexible closure fasteners having diverging fastener-receiving guide channels, including a handle mem` ber swivelled to the slide and extending permanently to one side of the slide in a direction transversely of the path of travel of the slide.

18. An operating slide for flexible closure fasteners having diverging fastener-receiving guide channels, lncluding an off-center handle with respect to and carried by the slide, projecting permanently to one side of the slide, and means for locking the slide in any desired position.

19. An operating slide for flexible closure message 20. An operating slide or flexible closure fasteners having diverging fastener-receiving guide channels, including a handle member swivelled to the slide and extending permanently in a direction transversely of the direction of travel of the slide, and means carried by the handle member for locking the slide in any desired position.

21.An operating slide for'flexible closure fasteners having diverging fastener-receiving guide channels, including a handle carried by and extending permanently to one side of the slide in a direction transversely of the path of travel of the slide, and means carried by the handle for locking the slide in any desired position.

22. An operating slide for flexible closure fasteners having diverging fastener-receivV ing guide channels, including a handle member swivelled to the slide and extending permanently to one side of the slide in a direction transversely of the path of travel of the slide, and means carried by the handle mem berv for locking the slide in any desired position.

23. The combination with a flexible closure fastener of the character stated, of an operating slide havin diverging fastener-receiving guide channe s, including a handle member carried by and extending transversely of the direction of travel of said slide upon said flexible closure fastener, and off-center with respect to said closure fastener operating slide, in an operative condition thereof.

24. The combination with a flexible closure fastener of the character stated, of an operating slide therefor having diverging, fastener-receiving guide channels, including a handle member carried by and projecting transversely of the direction of travel of said slide upon said fastener, and being to one side of said fastener in the operative condition thereof.

In Witness whereof We have hereunto set our'hands.

ARTHUR S. LICHTEN. ABRAHAM KOUFMAN. WILLIAM SHULIK.

Eil' 

